Joe Ryan: The Unsung Harley-Davidson Hero and Service King

Without service motorcycles won't make it very far, and let's face it, sometimes Harley's barely worked from the factory. Joe Ryan fixed them and trained mechanics all over the world since the days of the flat head, and his department is still doing it.

By Michael Smoot - June 27, 2017

1. Joe Ryan - Harley-Davidson Unsung Hero

Throughout HD history, many individuals have had a big impact within the company, few still reverberate long after they are gone, but Joe Ryan was one of those people. Born in Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania in 1893, he joined HD in 1919, starting the Quartermaster School and establishing the Service School, he then worked as the director for over four decades. Photo shows wrecking crew racer Jim Davis (stripe shirt) and Joe Ryan at Baltimore-Washington Speedway, Sept. 7, 1925

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2. Quartermaster School

HD quartermasters School was a three week course in 1917 for WWI soldiers. The goal of the school was to teach the American soldiers how to deal with their new military motorbikes. At the end of the war, the institute was not closed and was renamed the Service School.

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3.Birth of the Service School

After the war, the Official Service School was established and moved throughout the country to instruct mechanics at dealerships. In 1925 Joe Ryan was the first Harley-Davidson employee to visit Japan and trained motorcycle mechanics in Tokyo.

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4. Pennsylvania Police Training

In 1920 the Pennsylvania police bought 70 bikes for immediate use from Harley-Davidson. Officers were making the switch from horse back riding to motor bikes, but the problem was they had no one to service the bikes. Five troopers were willing to take the factory service training: Thomas Marton, Paul Worcester, B.G. Walters, Nevins Sees, and Joseph O'Boyle. They went to Milwaukee and were given extensive training from Ryan and the Serviceman McDonald, and were then able to teach their fellow officers.

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5. Harley-Davidson University

In the late 1990's, Harley-Davidson Service School consolidated it's facilities at the Harley corporate headquarters on Juneau Avenue. Officially renamed the Harley-Davidson University, this year the service school will celebrate it's 114th birthday.

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6. Become a Part of the Team

In 1963, Joe Ryan retired from the company and died just three years later. In his 43 years with the company, Ryan trained countless mechanics in the Service School and most of the time worked as service manager. Today HDU has trained dealers, technicians, employees and others in every conceivable subject related to Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. The service school is also consulted from time to time on product development and engineering issues. You can become a part of one of the longest running traditions in motorcycle service, and learn a valuable skill at Harley-Davidson University.

>>Join the conversation about Joe Ryan: The Unsung Harley-Davidson Hero and Service King right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!

For help with servicing your own bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com

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